Mark 14:1-39, Palm Sunday It was a head-turner. This scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem. The people were there for the big feast and they had heard that Jesus was coming. They had heard about Lazarus. They wanted to see Jesus. Even the Greeks who had come for the feast went to Philip, asking him, “Sir,…
Category: Season: Lent
The Jesus We Come to See – Nemy Que, SJ
John 12:20-33; 5th Sunday of Lent “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” The Greeks, who made this request in our Gospel reading, were surely not expecting amessiah. But they had heard about this man, Jesus, and wanted to see him forthemselves. They had no doubt heard about how he had healed the sick, raisedLazarus from…
What Needs to Die – Karel San Juan, SJ
John 12:20-33, Fifth Sunday of Lent “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Jesus compares us to a grain of wheat. If it falls to the ground and dies, it…
A Whole New World – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 3: 14-21, 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) When I was formator in San Jose Seminary, we had seminarians from a college seminary in the province, run by very traditional priests. The priests themselves were trained in Europe by a group of clerics we Pinoys would call katoliko-sarado-de-candado; Roman Catholics of the strict persuasion….
Re-set – Tony Basilio, SJ
Matthew 18:21–35, Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent Yesterday, I came upon a quote that I have read so many times in the past but one that continues to move me – “It’s madness to hate all rosesbecause you got scratched with one thorn,to give up all dreamsbecause one of them didn’t come true,to…
Sun – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 9:2-10, 2nd Sunday of Lent Eclipses used to be a dreadful thing. Ancient cultures saw omens in them, portending evil and tragedy. Imagining some dark monster eating the sun, they took fright. Now we know an eclipse is just the same moon we see at night, making its way during the day and crossing…
Approaching Lent – Kenzlee Ybanez, SJ
Mark 1:12-15, First Sunday of Lent As modern society faces migration, artificial intelligence, ideological-political fundamentalism, and climate change, can we still say that Lent is still relevant in a “post-truth era?” As humanity is challenged by the breakdown of relationships, social injustice, and poverty, can we still consider sacrifice and repentance as applicable, or are…
Solemnity – Nemy Que, SJ
Good Friday 2023 When Good Friday, all day-long, was prayer,When the whole town sang their grief,When everyone prayed to be embraced by the wounds of the suffering Jesus,Enveloped by the pain, keeping vigil until resurrection dawned.——————— This was how Good Friday was observed generations ago in the old town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Good Friday…
Abandoned – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Matthew 26:14 -27:66; Palm Sunday “And about three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli,Iema sabachthani?” which mean “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Did God the father abandon Jesus on the cross? Everything I have been taught about God cries out, “No!” Just four months ago, we were singing…
Passion – Karel San Juan, SJ
John 11:45-56; Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Tomorrow will already be Palm Sunday, and as we know, it commences the culmination of our Lenten Season, the Holy Week. It is good that today, Saturday, we already begin to dispose our hearts and our minds for this most sacred time with God. Our Church…
Empty Jars – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 4:5-42, Third Sunday of Lent In Jesus’ time, the village well wasn’t just a water source. It was the “singles’ bar” back in the day, if you will. Among many, shepherds, travelling merchants, and unmarried daughters stopped by the well to water their flock, get a drink, or fetch water for the house…and also,…
More! – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 4:1-11, First Sunday of Lent If we still believe that Genesis 3 is a literal story of moment number one of sin number one, how do we account for the following difficulties, like – did snakes really talk in the beginning of time? Why was the snake malicious if God created everything good? If…
One Lost Sheep 